I don't think I've seen anything like that before. Sure other politicians have done family home videos but, I don't know, this one just seems different; more geniune, I guess. Of course that could be my bias but I thought others would be interested in the video as well.

It really is a remarkable video. Mitt and Ann Romney and the five Romney sons with their very popular Five Brothers Blog are infusing a genuine family life, values and experiences into their campaign like no other I've seen before.

4
posted on 06/19/2007 8:41:01 AM PDT
by Unmarked Package
(<<<< CLICK to learn more about the conservative record and platform of Governor Mitt Romney)

Craig Romney writes: We want all of you to send in pictures wearing Mitt Gear. Whether you get a T-shirt, hat or water bottle, wed like to show it off on MittRomney.com. Be creative. Dress up your pets if you want. And then send your pictures to MyPhoto@MittRomney.com. Were putting them up in a special photo album, and well make sure to post some of our favorites on the blog. Taggs dog, Reggie, is our first submission:

Given what we do to any candidates family when they run for President, I’d say the complaints - if you can call them that - about the video are pretty thin.

You know at some point somebody will dredge up a ‘incident’ from the 1970’s in an attempt to smear whoever the candidate ends up being, for example. Won’t matter if its a he said she said, the MSM will run with it.

Running for President in this era means giving up any hope of privacy, or any expectations of decency being extended, in short.

Given that, this is a preemptive strike based on what Romney is seeing (how many ‘Mormons Suck articles will we see between now and November, 2008 if he’s the candidate?) currently, and where it will inevitably escalate to before all is said and done.

That's because you have not visited the Five Brothers website. If you had, you'd see that the brothers put the video together for their parents and put it up on their own blog. Actual Mitt fans are enjoying the brothers' blog and, as the comments on there suggest, the fans are happy that the brothers are taking the time to share their campaign experiences, including personal family touches, with their supporters and allowing them to feel a part of the "Romney team." It is a very casual and friendly atmosphere.

I don’t understand you guys. Our current GOP frontrunner has children who have publicly refused to campaign for him. Between McCain, Rudy and Thompson, there have been seven marriages. Meanwhile, here’s a guy who has been married for almost 40 years and has raised a wonderful family, and he gets criticized for being proud of them. We’re never going to beat Hillary if personal ethics are taken off the table.

12
posted on 06/19/2007 9:02:38 AM PDT
by FremontLives
(If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness- Theodore Roosevelt)

Of course it was planned.....sheesh. You don’t just up and say, oh, about 6 months before announcing that you’re thinking about running for President.....these people have been thinking about it for a LONG time....and preparing.

Meanwhile, heres a guy who has been married for almost 40 years and has raised a wonderful family, and he gets criticized for being proud of them. Were never going to beat Hillary if personal ethics are taken off the table.

Nothing wrong with personal ethics or being proud of your family. What has that to do with taping a private family meeting and then publicly posting it during a campaign? Also, if it was taped because it was thought the video would be useful during a campaign, it really wasn't a private family meeting it was, more or less, a campaign add.

BTW, I don't really think it is much of an issue, I just think it's kind of tacky.

People try to pretend they’ve had a perfect marriage without any challenges. Did you know Ann has MS? As a young husband, that can’t be easy to deal with, but you don’t see Romney patting himself on the back over it.

It’s a huge challenge, and she has spent years of her life living with it quietly, while still raising social awareness and advocating for the disabled.

I did not sense that the Romney family stagecrafted any of this video. Equally, I do not accuse you of reacting negatively out of purely political reasons. I concede that honest men can differ about the bona fides of this video.

Let us assume that you are correct, that this video is a stagecrafted affair in which the Romneys calculated to exploit their family for political ends, I submit that this proves only that they are more American than the Kennedys who are after all the unofficial American Royal Family because the Kennedys shamelessly lied about virtually every detail of their lives. Do you sense that the Romneys are telling lies or representing something they are not? Do they tell you the Mitt-Romney can speed read when he cannot? Do they tell you that he has written books that he has not written? Do they present him fraudulently as a family man? is all of this done in a slick and left-wing way, or is it straightforward with bad grammar and all?

This is not shameless, this is but the American way.

That is not to say that the Romneys might be entitled to dissemble because the Kennedys also lied through their genetically overgrown teeth, that would be an argument based in Clintonian relativism, but it is fair to say of the Romneys in this video that they have done everything in a good and regular American way.

A viewing of the video leaves one unconvinced that the matter is contrived. If it were not so, they might have corrected the grammar: "daughter-in- laws" to daughters-in-law. Did they selectively edit? Of course they did, why not? But this is quite different from "stagecrafting" rather this is more akin to editing a paper for spelling punctuation and continuity.

The point of the video is to introduce the Romney family to America and it has done so brilliantly.

20
posted on 06/19/2007 9:32:52 AM PDT
by nathanbedford
("I like to legislate. I feel I've done a lot of good." Sen. Robert Byrd)

You are so right. The kids are proud of their dad and feel he'd make a great president. Also, it's nice to have supporters see the family as real people. It helps supporters feel part of the big Romney team -- part of the family, if you will. This is a family we can be proud of. Why hide it or apologize for it?

It will take a very motivated, inspired and cohesive TEAM to beat the Clinton machine and the Romneys know it.

I am sure that Mitt supporters are very fine people (and I am not trying to start a flame war) - but it just seems like they have a bit of a cultish awe of Romney that the other candidate supporters don't have for their "guys".And people may (probably do) find me a bit creepy about a thing or two, but Mitt seems creepy in a Jim Jones kind of way.....

22
posted on 06/19/2007 9:36:29 AM PDT
by Psalm 73
("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)

If I am to believe all of the accusors in this thread who contend that this is a "staged" video, I must also assume that Tagg Romney's teary-eyed praise of his father at the end was phony, too. *rolls eyes*

It's obvious that Romney's sons have a great esteem for their dad and believe that he's the best man to lead the country. Yet people jump on this video, claiming it was staged merely for political purposes. The cynicism on this board often astounds me. Is it wrong for the Romney family to try to show the American people what they are about? After all, people are so quick to label Romney as detached and being so power hungry that he's willing to do anything or say anything to get elected. I think this video proves that the Romneys are motivated by a sense of duty to the country and made the decision collectively as a family. There's nothing wrong with that!

I am sure that Mitt supporters are very fine people (and I am not trying to start a flame war) - but it just seems like they have a bit of a cultish awe of Romney that the other candidate supporters don’t have for their “guys”.
And people may (probably do) find me a bit creepy about a thing or two, but Mitt seems creepy in a Jim Jones kind of way.....

****

So Psalm 73

Letting your light shine is equated with Jim Jones explain?

Matt. 5:
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

26
posted on 06/19/2007 9:53:00 AM PDT
by restornu
(Romney keeps his eyes on the mission, and not on those who attacks his campaigne!)

There isn’t a candidate on this site that doesn’t have a band of groupies acting with “cultish awe”. Mitt’s got his, Fred has his, ditto Tancredo, Hunter, Paul, even non-candidates like Buchanan and Keyes. Heck, Rudy’s cult proved it in a mass suicide pact.

27
posted on 06/19/2007 9:53:36 AM PDT
by LexBaird
(PR releases are the Chinese dog food of political square meals.)

I didn't equate him with Jim Jones, what i said was: "Mitt seems creepy in a Jim Jones kind of way"I could have used any number of cult-like personalities - Jim Jones was the first that came to mind - a bad choice on my part, I appologize - but the point was there is just something, well, creepy about his persona - something is not quite right.(And for the record, McCaine gives me the creeps, too).

28
posted on 06/19/2007 10:02:37 AM PDT
by Psalm 73
("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)

I didn't equate him with Jim Jones, what i said was: "Mitt seems creepy in a Jim Jones kind of way" I could have used any number of cult-like personalities - Jim Jones was the first that came to mind - a bad choice on my part, I appologize - but the point was there is just something, well, creepy about his persona - something is not quite right.

....some said the same about the Birchers. but you know that was not true!

30
posted on 06/19/2007 10:11:52 AM PDT
by restornu
(Romney keeps his eyes on the mission, and not on those who attacks his campaigne!)

‘People try to pretend theyve had a perfect marriage without any challenges. Did you know Ann has MS? As a young husband, that cant be easy to deal with, but you dont see Romney patting himself on the back over it.

Its a huge challenge, and she has spent years of her life living with it quietly, while still raising social awareness and advocating for the disabled.’

Yes to all. Its worth noting the liberals loved West Wing and its politics (I liked the show, but not the politics).

The ‘hero’ also had MS. It was used to explain away Clinton’s impeachment actually.

Personally, I know him. I have for more than 30 years so, in my case, it is out of personal loyalty and friendship that I support him.

Mitt is the type of person you really have to meet in order to fully get a sense of the man. I understand why so many people think "naaah, no one's that good." The media in Boston had that reaction too but, came to accept the fact that he was that good so, they had to find other reasons to hate him. Indeed, that is the primary source of the "Mitt is a flip-flopper" theme.

See, unlike any politician MA had ever known, the media couldn't find any drowned supporters, crooked business deals, inappropriate sexual relations with underage paiges or salacious DUI arrests in his past so they came up with the flip-flop deal. They had no familiar frame of reference with him. So, they took his attempts at finding the middle/common ground in order to get the job done, as a lack of core principles; something the media and the Democrats are intimately familiar with. They finally had their common frame of reference.

Now, I don't mean to say that he's perfect, far from it. He has made his share of mistakes, as have we all. But, he has had my admiration and respect from the day I met him both on a personal and professional level because of his actions and deeds towards me and my family and he has never given me any reason to think less of him. The problem, frankly, lies in what people on both sides of the aisle have come to expect from our politicians. Mitt is not the same-old, same-old and the only way to find that out is to get to know him. Otherwise you only have my word and those of his opponents on it. Check him out and decide for yourself.

Thanks for sharing that testimonial with us - I'm sure that we all just want what's best for America - we pray, then we go to the voting booths and hope that God has mercy on our nation. (Oh, that Ronnie were still with us....).

37
posted on 06/19/2007 11:07:28 AM PDT
by Psalm 73
("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)

"I am sure that Mitt supporters are very fine people (and I am not trying to start a flame war) - but it just seems like they have a bit of a cultish awe of Romney that the other candidate supporters don't have for their "guys".

My support for Gov. Romney came only after lengthy study of his life and it arises from genuine respect for a man who has consistently solved very difficult problems and achieved the desired results by inspiring and motivating others to excel. Romney attracts people of intelligence, insight, civility and enthusiasm to his side. He has a proven record of brilliant leadership skill to build the right team, gather the needed data, select the best strategy, and then benchmark progress. It's a real world problem solving strategy Gov. Romney has used successfully to transform businesses in the private sector, public service, and government as a chief executive.

People are inspired by his candidacy because they believe he can bring similar innovation to Washington and a fresh perspective and creative thinking to bear on old problems. Gov. Romney is the candidate that represents real change and a turn away from government as usual. He is attracting people in support of his campaign who have not been active in the political process for many years if ever at all.

Not since President Ronald Reagan has America had an articulate, charismatic, energetic, conservative leader capable of effectively communicating a positive and hopeful message of conservatism and persuading others to join the conservative cause.

Do you want to actually slow the move toward liberalism in America and begin to reverse that slide? Do you want a conservative ideologue on the national scene that sees his role in American politics as a passionate advocate for core conservative principles intent on convincing other Americans to join the ranks of conservatives? Do you want an expressive, telegenic President of the U.S.A. who can defeat the Democrat Media at their own game, bypass them, and speak directly to moderate voters and Reagan Democrats with an optimistic message to begin to convert them to our conservative views?

If you answered Yes to the above questions, then I urge you to follow the campaign of Gov. Romney. Take note of the firsthand accounts of favorable audience reaction, with frequent comparisons to Ronald Reagan, which he gets when making personal appearances. Take note especially of the reaction of women voters; a group that the Republican Party always struggles to retain and is losing, quite frankly.

Mitt Romney is a powerfully persuasive spokesman for the conservative cause. Dont lose sight of the fact that conservatism advances only with a combination of a positive, optimistic message and an articulate, persuasive messenger. We will not succeed without both.

38
posted on 06/19/2007 11:09:05 AM PDT
by Unmarked Package
(<<<< CLICK to learn more about the conservative record and platform of Governor Mitt Romney)

I loved it!!! He is very Presidential and his family is awesome. I just think of how a live the White House would be with them in there. He is not my first choice but he is in my top three...Duncan, Mitt and Fred are my choices.

It is a wonderful video which is, in my opinion, a very genuine glimpse of the Romney family. The video reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt. I remember reading as a young man about Roosevelt and his family. Roosevelt was a strong family man. He was elected at a fairly young age and had a large family in the White House. Speaking of the importance of families, Roosevelt stated the following:

“The tasks connected with the home are the fundamental tasks of humanity. When home ties are loosened; when men and women cease to regard a worthy family life, with all its duties fully performed, and all its responsibilities lived up to, as the best life worth living; then evil days for the [nation] are at hand.”

I think Romney has the same view about the importance of the family as Roosevelt expressed.

Romney doesn't have a genuine bone in his body. Every aspect of his campaign, including that "home" video has been expertly stage managed.

This is a man who pledged to be a more ardent supporter of abortion and gay rights than Ted Kennedy. That is, until he decided he wanted to run for President as a Republican, which happened to coincide nicely with a complete flip on his position on abortion. How convenient for him.

I realize that anyone running for national office these days has to blow with the political winds to some degree. But what distinguishes Romney from the rest of the politicians out there is that he is willing to say or do anything as long as it gets him elected. If he actually has some core values of his own and not just some new facade based on the latest polling, I've yet to see it.

Part of Mitt’s appeal is his personal and family life. In a world of divorce, broken families, runaway parents, addictions and abuse, they are countercultural. In many ways they represent the unspoken ideal which is achieved infrequently these days. You have a handsome, educated, brilliant, wealthy, successful father with good morals, a beautiful, kind, graceful mother whose husband still adores her after 37 years and five well adjusted, healthy sons with families of their own.

Mitt plays well with female voters who may have been the victims of serial womanizers, divorce, unfaithful husbands and the like. We can look at him and know there are good men left in the world. We can only hope to have a husband who is still madly in love with us after all those years.

His poll numbers in the states that count the most at the moment...NH and Iowa and SC.....are REALLY high...indicating an intelligence that goes beyond pop name-ID opinion polls. Mitt Romney has so much more integrity than the others that it will become THE issue he wins on.

When asked if the candidate is conservative, moderate, liberal, polls like Rasmussen show no statistically significant difference between Romney and other candidates from red states. As an example Thompson receives (42% conservative) while Romney receives (40%).

The flip-flop label doesn’t stick. Romney has always been against abortion and against gay marriage. Mitt was a conservative in state with a decidedly liberal institution.

The record is clear. You can put a “Federalist” type conservative in the shoes of Romney and you get similar results.

“I dont understand you guys. Our current GOP frontrunner has children who have publicly refused to campaign for him. Between McCain, Rudy and Thompson, there have been seven marriages. Meanwhile, heres a guy who has been married for almost 40 years and has raised a wonderful family, and he gets criticized for being proud of them. Were never going to beat Hillary if personal ethics are taken off the table.”

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